British pensioner 'caught with five kilos of methamphetamine' at Chile airport
A British pensioner has been arrested in Chile after allegedly attempting to smuggle five kilos of methamphetamine.
The 79-year-old had arrived on a flight from the Mexican city of Cancun, and was detained after a scanner detected a 'suspicious' substance in his suitcase.
The unnamed man was intercepted after officers discovered a concealed compartment in his luggage where the drugs had been hidden.
Police estimate the methamphetamine would have been worth around £200,000 on Chilean streets.
Airport police chief Sergio Paredes said it was the first time the arrested man had entered Chile.
He said: 'This person came from Mexico and when he was arrested and taken to the anti-narcotics squad's airport offices, he said that the suitcase had been received by some Mexican nationals at Cancun airport.'
The man was due to spend a night in a hotel in the capital, Santiago, before boarding a flight to Sydney, Australia.
Paredes said police were still investigating whether the drugs were due to remain in Chile or be smuggled to Australia. More Trending
He told local press: 'Prosecutors are looking into this and trying to establish whether the drug was for internal consumption or was due to be transported by this British national to Australia.'
Chilean customs officers released pictures of the four packages they had confiscated, saying: 'Customs officials intercepted a foreign citizen with more than five of kilos of methamphetamines hidden in a secret compartment in his luggage at Santiago Airport.
'He was stopped after his luggage was scanned and has been remanded in custody.'
The drugs arrest is the latest in a series of similar recent apprehensions around the world involving British nationals, although most have been far younger than the man held in Chile.
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